Monday, February 16, 2009

The National Gardening Association encourages the growth of health-focused youth garden programs through the Healthy Sprouts Awards sponsored by Gardener's Supply Company. The awards support school and youth garden programs that teach about nutrition and the issue of hunger in the United States.

To be eligible for the 2009 Healthy Sprouts Awards, a school or organization must plan to garden in 2010 with at least fifteen children between the ages of 3 and 18. The selection of winners is based on the demonstrated relationship between the garden program and nutrition and hunger issues in the United States.

In 2009, the program will present awards to twenty schools or organizations. Each recipient program will receive gardening supplies and resources, including gift certificates toward the purchase of gardening materials from Gardener's Supply. The top five programs will each receive a certificate valued at $500; fifteen more programs will each receive a $200 gift certificate.

Visit the KidsGardening Web site for complete program guidelines and application.

Contributors

Edward Abbey said:

"If America could be, once again, a nation of self-reliant farmers, craftsmen, hunters, ranchers, and artists, then the rich would have little power to dominate others. Neither to serve nor to rule: That was the American dream."